SPOTLIGHT FESTIVAL: TRANSCEND FEST 2024

SPOTLIGHT FESTIVAL: TRANSCEND FEST 2024

SPOTLIGHT FESTIVAL: TRANSCEND FEST

September 14-15, 2024
Middlefield, CT

FESTIVALS

BIG BEAR YOGA FESTIVAL
Looking for something to do this Sept? We are thrilled yoga festivals are back and can’t wait to check out all the amazing events taking place around the world. This week we had a chance to connect with Allie, the creator and visionary behind the Transcend Fest taking place in Middlefield, CT who we are thrilled to partner with! You will be able to get complimentary copies of our magazine at this festival! 

Special thanks for this code for our Yoga Love community: 10% off code is GETLIFTED (apply this at check-out)

What inspired you to create a festival?

I love my home state of Connecticut and wanted to create an event where we all gather for a weekend and we can create a sense of community with one another while having the ability to meet local teachers as well as try different classes we may have not known existed right in our backyard!

What makes your festival unique?

This festival is unique because it blends yoga and movement classes with wellness modalities as well as forms of spirituality.  It is the first festival that really encapsulates a well rounded healing and transformational experience. There is truly something for everyone here, even if you are not into yoga or movement based classes.

What offering/presenter or class are you most excited about for this year’s event?

I am so excited for every presenter, it’s so hard to choose!  Just to highlight a few of our AMAZING offerings at Transcend Fest would be Kundalini yoga, Tantra, Shamanic healing, puppy yoga, and herbalism.  There are 90 offerings throughout the weekend, you will have to check out the website to see the full line-up!

BIG BEAR YOGA FESTIVAL
BIG BEAR YOGA FESTIVAL
BIG BEAR YOGA FESTIVAL
ONE YOGA THAILAND

ONE YOGA THAILAND

ONE YOGA THAILAND

Sponsored Content from our Partners

BEN CLARK INTERVIEW

One Yoga has established itself as a sincere yoga school, focusing on well-being and spiritual growth. Located on the paradise island of Koh Phangan, in Thailand, the center offers a variety of professional-level programs in its beachfront resort.

United in diversity, we want to incorporate and bridge the ancient wisdom traditions with modern-day practices. One Yoga’s mission is to make a positive impact on the world through the offerings of yoga and meditation retreats as well as teacher training courses.

Rather than being based on a single lineage, One Yoga’s teachings find their roots in multiple humble and authentic traditions. Our core values are humility and respect for all spiritual paths – and the many interpretations and different belief systems of Yoga.

 

Courses and Retreats

One Yoga’s programs include 200-, 300-, and 500-hour Yoga Teacher Training (certified by Yoga Alliance), as well as weekly Yoga Sadhana and Meditation Retreats. In addition to the on-site programs One Yoga also offers an Online Studio platform to support the growth of their students with online classes from wherever they may be in the world.

200-hour Yoga Teacher Training

One Yoga’s core program, the 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training offers a holistic experience, blending physical practice with spiritual growth. Accredited by Yoga Alliance, it welcomes all levels, emphasizing a deep understanding of yoga philosophy, breathwork, and meditation. Graduates gain practical teaching experience and a nourishing community of experienced teachers and like-minded yogis enhances learning.

300-hour Yoga Teacher Training

Take your practice and teaching skills to the next level with a 300-hour TTC. This advanced six-week program offers a comprehensive curriculum covering anatomy, teaching methodology, and yogic lifestyle. A previous 200-hour certification is NOT needed to attend this course. Graduates are eligible for RYT 300 or RYT 500 accreditation, distinguishing them in the yoga teaching community.

Yoga Sadhana Retreat

Designed for deep personal growth and the enhancement of well-being, this weekly retreat centers around Sadhana, the daily spiritual practice. It combines physical practices like asanas and Pranayama with introspective methods such as meditation, supported by philosophy classes. The retreat focuses on discipline and commitment, offering a serene environment conducive to intensive yoga practice.

Meditation Retreat

This week-long retreat offers a profound journey into meditation, suitable for both beginners and experienced practitioners. It features daily meditation sessions, yoga classes, and teachings focusing on mindfulness, inner peace, and spiritual growth. Participants who maintain a stable practice can benefit from stress reduction, emotional well-being, and a deeper connection with themselves, paving the way for self-realization.

BEN CLARK INTERVIEW
One Yoga is your personal portal to the transformative and magical world of yoga. Our yoga studio fits right into your pocket thanks to our app. It’s a gateway to hundreds of different classes, courses, and challenges that are easily filtered so you find exactly what you need every day. Plus, our teachers and community are there to support you every step of the way!
Find a practice that fits your mood: from hatha, vinyasa, and yin, to kundalini, ashtanga, and so much more! Or choose between a wide variety of focus-based courses such as power yoga, embodiment and presence, trauma-informed yoga, etc. Filter classes by teacher, style, duration, or experience level. Get exactly what you need, when you need it.

Discover the Depths of Yoga – experience the full range of benefits yoga offers through not only asana, but all 8 limbs of yoga. Practice Asana, Meditation, Pranayama, Philosophy, Devotion, and Ayurveda. Featuring over 900+ video classes embracing different styles and practices, our catalog caters to all levels: from first-time beginners to advanced practitioners.

ATHA RETREAT HOUSE

ATHA RETREAT HOUSE

ATHA RETREAT HOUSE

Sponsored Content from our Partners

BEN CLARK INTERVIEW
BEN CLARK INTERVIEW
Retreat Bliss at Atha Retreat House

Our newest studio partner Atha Yoga Shala, located in Delray Beach, FLA also has a gorgeous retreat space you won’t want to miss! The retreat house sits on a 4 acre property right in the middle of Delray Beach. You can enjoy a full-service spa with 5 saunas on the property and yoga studios, heated, non-heated, and outdoor facilities. Learn more about this beautiful space below in our chat with COO Nicole Acacio. 

What makes Atha Retreat Shala unique?

We sit on 4 acres in Delray Beach, FL. and you are transported to a tropical lush garden when you arrive at our property. We have heated and non heated yoga space/studios on property, an outside event yard with a stage and large space for yoga under the stars, a shaded large deck surrounded by trees, flowers and foliage to practice on, have meditations or just group discussions. We also have a full service spa with 4 infrared saunas, a barrel Sauna, and 5 treatment rooms for massages, our shaman, aesthetician, and workshops. 

What is the benefit of hosting a retreat at Atha Retreat house?

You can come with your own group and have all you need on property.  The house sleeps 10 with 3 bedrooms all with twin beds upstairs, sleeps 7 easily in shared rooms and downstairs 1 large king bedroom and another large bedroom with 2 queen beds. As a yoga teacher, you will have access to our non-heated space, deck and event yard area to teach your group or you are invited to study with our teachers and take part in any of our 52 classes offered weekly. Plenty of areas for group discussions, classes, sound baths, etc. 

What is special/fun/interesting about the location of Delray?

Downtown Delray is less than 15 min walk to the bustling action of Atlantic Ave, filled with shops, restaurants, cafe’s, music venues, etc. There are also amazing public beaches less than a 5 min car ride from our property. 

Is the retreat space only for yogis? Can anyone book a stay?

Anyone can come to ATHA RETREAT HOUSE and dive into an experience they would like with as many yoga classes as they need, to spa services, beach time, dinners on the Avenue or just a peaceful couple days with one of our facilitators guiding them through their stay here with us.

The theme of our next issue is JOY, how do yoga retreats inspire JOY?

Funny you should ask. We say constantly to our staff and clients, they seem to enjoy it so much because they are truly sitting in their seat of JOY here at ATHA. Our clients get to know themselves a little bit better, our teachers and facilitators are their true self here and work is a state of JOY as they are in their true seat of JOY in their practices.  I can honestly say that an experience here at ATHA SHALA and staying at ATHA RETREAT HOUSE and self care at the ATHA SPA creates JOY! Come stay with us and find your seat of JOY

BEN CLARK INTERVIEW
BEN CLARK INTERVIEW
ADAPT & LOVE: BEN CLARK INTERVIEW

ADAPT & LOVE: BEN CLARK INTERVIEW

ADAPT & LOVE: BEN CLARK INTERVIEW

PROFILES

BEN CLARK INTERVIEW

Scrolling through IG last year, we came across Ben Clark’s Instagram account @adapttoperform where he was teaching a wheelchair adapted yoga, mobility and meditation class at the UK’s largest yoga event, OM Yoga Show. We wanted to learn more about his life, work and thoughts on LOVE. 

How were you first introduced to yoga?
I did my first yoga class when I was 19 years old, before I was a wheelchair user. At the time, I was living in Australia and training as a professional swimmer. My uncle took me along as he had mentioned the benefits he had gained from it for his surfing, so I gave it a try.

This was 2009, so before Instagram and way before influencers were a thing, meaning I had little to no knowledge of what yoga was or meant. The teacher was great though, and really helped me understand the movements.

Yoga didn’t hook me straight away. I just did a handful of classes and I didn’t return to it for a number of years. When I did, however, it was a few years after becoming disabled. This time, I took a bigger interest in it. I think the challenge of adapting the movements to my new situation provided the spark of creativity and interest needed for me to take it up long term, which I have for the past 6 years now!

Last year you led a yoga class at the UK’s largest yoga show as the first person in a wheelchair. What was that experience like?
Firstly, it was fantastic to be able to be showcasing what I do to a larger audience. Often the phrase, “Yoga is for every body” is used, but with very few people actually knowing how to adapt it for people whose bodies work differently. 

I love the challenge of adapting movements for various people, so I took the opportunity of being in front of an audience to explain my thought process and how we take the fundamentals of yoga and apply it to anyone in a safe, simple, and fun way.

You are the founder of an online platform, Adapt to Perform, and are a world-leading expert on adapted fitness. For someone who is not familiar with the term “adapted fitness,” how would you define it?
When it comes to adaptation, it’s all very individual. Much like water changes to the shape of its container, exercise must change to the abilities and goals of the individual. I have worked with over 100 different people with a very wide range of abilities and different desired outcomes. If I came with the same plan with no room for adjustment, I would fail them as a coach. Therefore, I would have a base plan for an individual that I can adjust and change easily on the go. At the end, the program might look completely different, but we are still achieving the goals we set out to do.

It can be easy to just focus on doing things the “right way,” but this way of thinking stops creativity and may not be suitable for the individual. When it comes to adapting a movement, I like to ask: “What is the purpose of this movement?” From there, I ask: “How can I achieve the same purpose but within the limitations of the individual?” Keep it simple, think of the fundamentals, and make it fun!

The theme of this issue is LOVE, can you share with us what you have learned about love?
Well, having recently got married, love is a big topic for myself, lately! I’ve found that the more pure the love, the easier it is. Loving my wife Alice is never a chore, and neither is eating a pizza! And with that, it’s important to recognise that some things/people we will love more than others, but that doesn’t make them less or more important. Although if Alice reads this, she’s definitely the most important 😉

Learn more: adapttoperform.co.uk

BEN CLARK INTERVIEW
BEN CLARK INTERVIEW
LATINX IN WELLNESS – Part 3

LATINX IN WELLNESS – Part 3

Latinx Community & Wellness

By: Ingrid Baquero

PROFILES

Welcome to our three part series celebrating the Latinx healers, creators and wellness advocates making an impact in our communities. Wellness is multi-dimensional, as it consists beyond the physical, but also mental, spiritual, financial, environmental, and social aspects of our lives. These are the stories of role models making bienestar (wellbeing) una prioridad (priority) for all. 

I recently attended a community run to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, NY. Our guide, Nicole Espinosa, took us through several iconic Hispanic/Latinx landmarks to share the history behind each one. She made a remark que me impacto (made an impact) and inspired this piece.

“There’s a space for everybody, and if it doesn’t exist, create it”. 

It is important to share the stories of Latinx individuals beyond Hispanic Heritage Month, as it inspires others to create their own narratives. This series consists of real stories of inspirational Latinx individuals creating safe spaces for connection, community, and self-care through the power of wellness. Before we kick this off, let’s start with some self-reflection.

How does wellness show up in your life? 
How are you creating spaces of wellbeing for others? 
What does the future of wellness look like? 

EVOLVING BEYOND THE ASANA

Julie Villa

Julie Villa, Sui Yoga Café mama (co-founder)

Ecuadorian, living in New York City
IG: @suiyoganyc

COMMUNITY IMPACT:
I focus on actively nurturing the Sui Yoga community, cultivating meaningful relationships with students, teachers and team members.

WELLNESS JOURNEY:
When I started practicing yoga in 2009, day by day, practice after practice, I slowly started to understand what it meant to truly feel healthy. I became motivated to make small changes that I needed in my life. I was fortunate to find a beautiful community at Modo Yoga NYC, which encouraged me to deepen my practice in a safe space surrounded by wonderful humans.

After doing my yoga teaching training with Modo Yoga, many seeds were planted which awakened my desire to dedicate my heart and soul to create a safe space for others to experience connection and transformation. The name Sui comes from sui generis, in Latin, it means ‘one of a kind’; we honor and embrace each person’s unique qualities and accept everyone as they are. After meeting my partner Sven, 4 years ago, we started dreaming together about how we would birth Sui Yoga, by joining our skill sets, intentions, aligning our offerings and practices with many values and philosophy of yoga, Sui Yoga was born. Our focus on community and connection is one of our strongest driving forces. We envision to continue growing our community and contribute to the creation of more conscious wellness spaces around the world.

THE FUTURE OF WELLNESS
Our team and students are a beautifully diverse group of humans, many are latin people. I love and appreciate how much Spanish is spoken around the studio. We have become a chosen family and we have the opportunity to create wonderful memories everyday on and off the yoga mat. Some people came to discover yoga for the first time, seeing them come back again and again is a very fulfilling feeling.In the near future, we will offer yoga in Spanish. It is one exciting project to work on, the intention is to bring more awareness and accessibility to people that either may not speak English fluently, or to people who simply enjoy the Spanish language. We are also working on supporting ways that make yoga and wellness as accessible as possible to our latinx community in NY.


About Ingrid Baquero: Ingrid envisions an inclusive, joyful world, inspiring her community through the power of well-being.As a Colombian-American, and Queens, New York native it is an honor to serve the people of Queens through yoga, running and mindfulness. She is a dedicated runner, wellness program curator, community leader and dance and music aficionada.Outside, catch Ingrid on the run. She co-leads a 5k community social run within the Astoria/LIC area. All bodies and paces welcomed. Right now, Ingrid is dedicated to her wellness work, passion project: SOL YOGA PROJECT, and volunteer work with Yoga Love Magazine

If you have a story to share or know someone you’d like to celebrate reach out to us for a Latinx in Wellness: solyogaproject@gmail.com

BIG BEAR YOGA FESTIVAL
BIG BEAR YOGA FESTIVAL
INSPIRED COMMUNITY

INSPIRED COMMUNITY

INSPIRED COMMUNITY

By iana velez

PROFILES

BIG BEAR YOGA FESTIVAL
Susanna, Tejal, Sunaina…these are just a few of the people who inspire us on and off the mat. For our INSPIRATION themed premier issue, we asked them to share with us who inspires them. Here’s what they had to share.
BIG BEAR YOGA FESTIVAL

Susanna Barkataki
photo: Caroline White Photography

Who inspires you?
Arundhati Roy: Indian author, actress and political activist who was best known for the Booker award-winning novel, The God of Small Things and for her involvement in environmental and human rights causes. She is involved with advocating and protecting the causes of the poor in India. Roy has campaigned along with activist Medha Patkar against the Narmada dam project. Roy donated her Booker prize money, as well as royalties from her books on the project, to the Narmada Bachao Andolan, an Indian social movement. She is a spokesperson of the anti-globalization or alternate globalization movement. 

Books that inspire you:
I am deeply inspired by the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali — I love Swami Satchidananda’s translation. I also love to read poetry from Rabindranath Tagore, Rumi, Valarie Kaur and Rupi Kaur. Finally, I love Adrienne Maree Brown’s Emergent Strategy because it guides me again and again with regards to making social change.

Where do you go to get inspired:
I spend time in nature to be inspired. Nature is like the divine church. All over India, you’ll find altars to the divine — they may be elaborate. Or they may be simple, made with a stick and some mud. They invite in devotion, energy, intention. Nature helps me create sacred space by making a place for the divine — something greater than myself. It helps me open to love and service. Try it — go out in nature and pay attention — enliven the senses! See what you notice and create!

BIG BEAR YOGA FESTIVAL

Tejal Patel
photo: Rob Alcantar

Learn more: tejalyoga.com

Who inspires you?
Chunilal Ranchhodbhai Patel (he/him)

My grandfather, Chunilal Ranchhodbhai Patel, is such an inspiration to me and many in my family. He was a hard-working, dedicated husband, father of five and freedom fighter. He was alive during a tumultuous time for India and the surrounding regions, as the struggle to gain independence from the British escalated during and post World War II. Around 1944 or 1945, my Grandfather submitted his resignation letter to his boss in order to join India’s Independence movement alongside Gandhiji. His boss ripped up the letter and said, “Take as much time away as you need!” Independence from the British was announced on August 15, 1947, with the partition of India and Pakistan.

My grandfather lived with us until he passed away when I was six years old, but I always remember his strong, steady presence during my childhood. I will remember how he continued to advocate for justice in his life. He spun cotton into thread in the spirit of Indian self-reliance from the British, even after moving to the USA in the 1970s. I credit him for instilling in me the fight for justice for all beings.

Mira Nair (she/her)

I admire activist and filmmaker Mira Nair for her powerful storytelling of everyday life. She showcases nuanced aspects of culture and the immigrant experience in such moving, artistic and dynamic ways. She turned Jhumpa Lahiri’s book The Namesake into a film that continues to speak directly to me as a first-generation, Indian American daughter and sibling.

She tackles topics and artfully directs films in an unapologetic manner uplifting, vital, necessary, and often messy narratives like the Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love (banned in India), Mississippi Masala (about the taboo of Black and Brown love), Monsoon Wedding (a chaotic family wedding with all the expected and unexpected drama).

Mira’s activism extends beyond her films into her family as well. Her son is Zohran Mamdani, an assemblyman in Queens, NY. He once completed a 15-day hunger strike to advocate for the rights of NY taxi drivers. Mira is such an inspiration to me, and someone I hope to meet one day!

Books that inspire you:
These books are always on my mind and in my heart: Becoming by Michelle Obama, You Are Here by Thich Nhat Hanh, The Perfection of Yoga by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Where do you go to get inspired:
Pretty much any coffee shop. I find the whole space and setup of a coffee shop to be a reminder of care and attention to detail. I really vibe on the open, welcoming atmosphere and am often productive, creative and at home in coffee shops!

Nature trails. Being outside in any setting is so refreshing for me. Being outside, surrounded by trees or open air, navigating the land underfoot tends to be where I unwind. I breathe deeply and am reminded of the circle of birth and death, all things sacred and how life goes on with or without me.

Podcasts, social and more:

UnF*ck Your Brain podcast by Kara Loewentheil
Yoga and Vedanta podcast with Swami Tyagananda

IG Accounts:
@shaunking
For their social justice efforts and very real humanity

@raeekayassaie
For their continuous deconstruction of dominant culture in everyday life

@judy.makes
For the craftiness in sewing, knitting and life

@issarae, @mindykaling, @alokvmenon, @amandaseales Humor, trailblazing, fashion and fierceness

YouTube:
The Pitch Meeting channel by Ryan George who is creative, consistent and shares critical views of the movie industry and movies while still clearly enjoying them!

BIG BEAR YOGA FESTIVAL

Sunaina Rangnekar 
Learn more: @su9nah
photo: Lake Marquez-Hernandez

Inspiration to me is also courage – specifically, the courage to overcome the obstacles life gives you. The root of “inspiration” is “inspire,” literally to inhale or breathe in. For me, inspiration is breathing into your discomfort and breathing into regulation and groundedness. Inspiration is to embrace and alchemize the change that is ever-pervading.

Who inspires you? 

Rüdrāksh Malheauxtrā (they/them) 

I love Rüdrāksh because they never fail to show up as their whole self, authentically, with so much energy and love for what they do. They are a true force of nature who does the work to acknowledge their teachers, uplift marginalized folks, and speak the truth (even if it’s hard to hear). They stand for what is right and are so deeply rooted in their yoga practice it inspires me to go deeper. Rüdrāksh is always reading 99 books at a time and helped me increase my bookshelf with authors leading the decolonization movement. By existing as they are, they allow me to show up precisely the way I am! I love you and am so proud of how far you’ve come!

Soraya Latiff (she/her) 

Soraya is a good friend and the first Indian (Indo-Caribbean) student I graduated. She inspires me to understand the Indian diaspora more profoundly and honor the beautiful intersection between Indian and Afro-Caribbean culture. Soraya is a true activist and works with students all over the Boulder/Denver area to increase ethnic and cultural awareness in the school systems. She uses her privilege to disrupt harmful systems while creating brave spaces for folks to show up as their authentic selves. The first time I took her yoga class, I received a spiritual message from my ancestors. That experience invited tears of healing and joy to flow through me – an experience that no one else could give me. Thank you, Soraya, for being you and being my teacher in so many different ways.

Sreeja Chakrabarty (she/they) 

Instagram has been an enormous blessing by connecting me to Sreeja. Sreeja is a one-of-a-kind singer, songwriter, music producer, and overall artist! She constantly inspires my poetry practice and is a strong pillar of support for me. I love that Sreeja writes music in their mother tongue (Bengali) to preserve their culture. I’ve learned a lot from Sreeja about building trust and being a work-in-progress. She is a person I want to center, uplift and honor as someone who inspires me. I can’t wait to hear about more of your creations and support you in whatever ways I can!

Books that inspire you:
Emergent Strategy by Adrienne Maree Brown has allowed me to re-imagine the future in a way I didn’t know was possible. It inspired me to center black, brown, queer, anti-racist, and social justice movements that allow me to unlearn how society has conditioned us.

Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage and Compassion by Jivana Heyman is a book that has built the foundation of how I actively interrupt harm when I see it. It’s allowed me to work towards unlearning perfectionism.

All About Love by Bell Hooks held me in the truth that love is an action and helped me unlearn my old definitions of what I knew about love.

Where do you go to get inspired:
My home temple is a place I go to be in devotion to The Divine and reaffirm my spiritual practices.

The garden in my backyard to ground my energy, be one with nature, and appreciate the privilege of communing with food.

My comfy bed so I can rest, nap, and wake up feeling more refreshed and inspired to do my work!

Podcasts, social and more:
@rishi_chidananda always gives me knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita in a grounded and digestible way.

@polyamorouswhileasian helps me better understand the intersectionality of my identities in a way that I couldn’t always name.

Yoga is Dead Podcast helped me understand how Yoga has evolved over generations to be what it is today in the West.